Feng Menglong’s, “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger” is a story about a prostitute named Du Tenth who falls in love with one of the men who encountered her named Master Li. Tenth and Li wanted to get married but she was still under contract by Madam, who was her employer. Li has spent every last tael and was unable to pay Madam 300 taels in exchange for Li’s freedom and hand in marriage. Tenth was a very strong woman and we can see her strength in the way she responds to various distressing situations that she and Li encounter. She tells Madam, “…I’m sure he can raise three hundred. But three days is such a short time. Give him ten, and you’ve got a deal” (Menglong, 502). On another occasion, when they were at sea, Tenth has discovered how easily swayed the love of her life was by money, and almost gave her up for one thousand tales to a man named Sun Fu. Tenth was a smart woman and immediately reacted by throwing all the jewels she had hidden for her and Li’s future into the river. She said, “You have abandoned me at midjourney and betrayed my earnest heart. Today, before these many eyes, I open this box to reveal its contents, so that you may learn that a thousand tales is no great thing…” (Menglong, 516).
Saikaku’s, “Life of a Sensuous Woman” portrays an atypical, strong female character as well. The narrator is an aged, resigned prostitute who is reliving her story by telling her tale to two young men who came to see her. She tells them of the many lovers she has encountered and all the various types of jobs she had as a mistress. The narrator is a very adventurous woman who knows what she wants and sets out on a journey to find it the only way she knows how, in hopes of finding her one true love.
1 response so far ↓
JMERLE // Sep 19th 2015 at 4:22 pm
Chaya,
You seem to be getting at a central common point between the two women, that they are ultimately quite strong. Work to go more deeply into the behavior of both of these women. You don’t need to summarize the plot before you begin to address the topic.
8/10.